Saturday, October 07, 2006
Real Mexican
By Jigs Arquiza
Jimi Hendrix sang about a guy named Joe going down south to Mexico way.
Dominic Toretto, Vin Diesel’s character, went to Mexico at the closing scene of Fast and the Furious. In From Dusk ‘til Dawn, the Gecko brothers, played by George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino, went to a bar named Titty Twister located in, you guessed it, Mexico. Just what is it about Mexico that makes it so attractive to a lot of people?
Besides the beaches of Acapulco, its beautiful women and magnificent historical attractions, Mexico is also known for its fantastic food. Luckily, Cebuanos don’t have to go to Mexico to partake of its gastronomical delights.
Just head on over to El Loco, located at the Skyrise Building at the Asiatown IT Park in Lahug, and indulge yourself in the best Mexican chow you’ll get in Cebu. Proprietor Tonypet Ouano explains, “I’ve always enjoyed Mexican food, and I believe in using the best ingredients in preparing them. We import a lot of the ingredients that we use, especially the spices. That way, we can give our customers authentic-tasting Mexican food, not Tex-Mex, not Mex-Pinoy, but the closest they can get to the real thing without going all the way to Mexico.”
Mexican food enthusiasts can start off with a plate of El Loco’s Nachos, tortilla chips smothered with sour cream, ground beef, fresh tomatoes and jalapeno peppers. For those who like salads, El Loco offers their Taco Salad, fresh salad greens combined with corn and red kidney beans on a bowl-shaped tortilla.
Meat lovers will definitely enjoy the Loco Ribs, a bigger-than-average serving of broiled ribs that comes with a portion of Mexican-style rice. The weak of heart should beware, though, of the chipotle sauce that comes with it, very similar to hickory barbecue sauce albeit with a more spicy kick. Customers who prefer poultry will find the Loco Pollo a very satisfying treat. Served with Burrito rice, this will change the way El Loco’s patrons look at chicken dishes.
Other notable items on El Loco’s menu include their Chicken Enchilada, Chili Dog and Tortilla Soup. Clients should definitely try their Decadente, chocolate cake covered with caramel sauce, surely a treat for one’s sweet tooth.
Of course, El Loco also offers refreshments to complement their dishes. Dos Equis Beer and Tequila Rose are available, as well as their own version of the ever-popular Margarita. Customers with exotic tastes should also try out El Loco’s Tamarind Juice, a refreshing concoction that’s sure to delight your taste buds.
Perhaps unknown to most people, the Philippines’ and Mexico’s histories and cultures have long been intertwined, each country influencing the other in so many ways. This may be the reason why Pinoys have taken so easily to Mexican food. And since the Philippines and Mexico also share a common denominator in Spain, it is in the Spanish language that we can probably best describe the food at El Loco. Muy Delicioso!
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (October 7, 2006 issue)
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